DARK EYE CIRCLE
In Malaysia, people always misunderstood or misused the term “Eye bag” while referring to dark eye circle (DEC). The right definition for dark eye circle is the skin area under your eyes has changed color or looks darkened. It may appear as shades of black, brown, purple, and blue, depending on your natural skin color. Though dark eye circle does not represent any symptoms of acute medical issues, it does make you look tired all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes it makes you look much older than your personal age. Furthermore, people who has dark eye circle looks unpresentable, weak, sunken and puffy eyes. Therefore, these people feel less confident and less productive to work, or face other people. In some serious occasions, they even avoid public.
There are several main causes of dark eye circles:
- Genetic
- Shadowing: orbital rim shaped of eyes, together with not enough lighting.
- Fluid retention cause eye-bag
- Thin skin under the eyes: blood vessels are seen clearer
- Bad habit/lifestyle: smoking, alcoholic, less sleep
- Aging: loss of peri-orbital fat pad, sagging skin that move the peri-orbital pad to under eyes
- Possible medical illness: thyroid, kidney disease etc.
- Skin issues: Eczema, rashes, scabies.
- Dehydration
- Some allergy reactions: cause peri-orbital edema.
In treating dark eye circle (DEC), we categorize the treatments into two main classes, medical (medications, drugs, cream) and non-medical (lifestyle changes). For medical, after consultation with our skin expert, Datin Dr. Suhaila Sujani, we usually start DEC treatment with noninvasive meds such as topical cream containing cafein to help lighten the dark skin under eye area. After that, we continue with applying some whitening cream containing Vitamin C and Kojic Acid to enrich the dark skin with more helpful lightening substances. Then, if needed, we also provide our patients with invasive treatment; for instance, chemical peels, laser therapy, or PRP injections (Platlet-rich-plasma). In addition, we also perform dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle and skin booster injections.
As stated earlier, the second kind of DEC treatment is the change of lifestyle. To get rid of DEC, one MUST have a healthy lifestyle which includes enough rest and sleep, quit smoking, stop consuming alcohols, drink more/enough water, reduce stresses, and use sunscreen under eyes on daily basis. To sum up, DEC once treated, does not only boost one’s self-confidence but also create spark and joy to his/her life. Thus, producing a happier human being who has a better quality of life.
